Please note: we are currently accepting votes for the 2013 Readers’ Top 20 (you can see the 2012 chart here). To take part simply email us a list of your three favourite video games that were released last year, in the UK. Voting ends on Friday, January 31.

Weather you’re in the mood
I’m actually happy that the first few months of 2014 are looking pretty meagre in terms of new releases. I’ve accumulated a superfluous number of games, most of which I haven’t even started yet. The summer weather we Brits experience every year functions as a decent analogy for how I’ve spent my gaming time over the last few months.

Games like: Call Of Duty, Splinter Cell, God Of War, GTA V, Gears Of War and Assassin’s Creed serve as the sun. They’re abundant, pleasant, and enjoyable but after a while you feel as though you need a rest from them.

Then you have games like Super Mario 3D World, Rayman Legends, Zelda, Pokémon, and Luigi’s Mansion 2. I see these games as an ice cold glass of cranberry juice: bright, colourful and refreshing.

Then I look over to my games collection and remember that I’ve neglected to trade-in Resident Evil 6 and Aliens: Colonial Marines. These two gems represent the deluge of rain we experience and can ruin what was an otherwise good time. I know they’re terrible games I can’t help wanting to complete them.iLike Fat Ladys (gamertag)

All about the games
Hello GC! I discovered you a few months ago I and now I read you every lunch break, and thought it would be good to email in! I got a PlayStation 4 for Christmas and can I say am I loving it so far with Battlefield 4 being a highlight (I’ve not had any issues with multiplayer too which is fortunate).

One of the biggest switches I’ve seen from the Xbox 360 to the PlayStation 4 is how different the home screens are. One of my biggest frustrations was how the Xbox dash is covered in ads and showing content. The PlayStation 4 at this moment almost seems serene (even if the music is a bit like it’s from Home and Away) it feels like it is all about gaming; seems silly to say that it’s a refreshing change. Also if anyone wants to add me on PSN that’d be ace, because literally I have no friends. At. All.ToasterBRS (PSN ID)

The truth about GameCube
There have been a few letters recently about Nintendo and their relationship with third parties. I read this article the other day about the development and release of the GameCube and it has quotes from all the big hitters at Nintendo on a variety of subjects, including their third party strategy (long story short, they’re historically not massive fans of third party multi-platform games…) Warning, it’s rather long.Magnumstache
PS: I either nicked that from someone on Twitter, or the Underbox (hopefully not the Inbox…). I really can’t remember which, so apologies!

Film controller
Just thought I’d write in to describe the most amazing feature I’ve discovered about my shiny new PlayStation 4. I was switching input between different sources on the TV and paused for a second. My input selection box disappeared before I could hit up again on my remote. When I hit up instead of doing something with my TV it caused the PlayStation 4 to switch menu options! Without any extra set-up my TV remote automatically controls my PlayStation 4 when it’s on that channel. Means I don’t need to search for PlayStation 4 controller when I just want to play a DVD/Blu-ray!

Maybe I’m just easily pleased…Pmo

New and unlikely
Do you know if Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty! has a release date yet? I have been eagerly awaiting the game but have seen very little in the way of news on the title. Also, any idea if Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath 2 is actually going ahead? Oddworld creator Lorne Lanning commented that it was a possibility, along with a god simulator style Oddworld game.Keef25 (PSN ID)

GC: New ‘N’ Tasty is still only down as spring 2014. We’ve not heard the rumours of the other games before and there’s certainly been no official announcement.

Essential purchases
With the video game, film and other entertainment industries becoming ever more dominated by sequels, I was interested to know what games in long-running franchises people would consider to be the essential purchases. If you were recommending a franchise to a new player, which titles in the series would be considered essential and why?

I’ll use Call Of Duty as an example; I would recommend the first as an excellent WW2 era first person shooter, Modern Warfare 1 and 2 as revolutionary console shooters that perfected twitch style online multiplayer, and Black Ops I for the great 1960s style atmosphere and a more interesting plot. Maybe a good Hot Topic?LeChuck2117 (gamertag/PSN ID)

GC: We’ll add it to the list.

Original idea
This is not a criticism of Puppeteer, but those who keep saying it’s like nothing else need to go back and play an old Mega Drive platformer by Treasure, presented as a puppet show with interchangeable heads allowing different abilities. It even had a cat-looking boss character. The game’s title escapes me though.Dynamite Headdy (@2Tweet2BeSour)

Super modder bros.
RE:ZKC I’ve played Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii and it’s absolutely great, Mine is version 1 of this game so I don’t know if yours or anyone else#s is a different version, I have to give a great big thumbs up to these modders and a big thank you to yourself for putting the info and link to their site on the GC pages.

On another note have any GC readers purchased the FIFA 14 Xbox 360 controllers? And if so had problems? Especially with the ‘A’ button sticking and becoming un-responsive. I’m on my third one now due to this problem and up to yet it seems fine…fentybonce

Second turnaround
Great news about the 3DS selling the most last year in the UK, and quite rightly so. It had some fantastic games, all of which left a huge smile on my face, and others as well I can imagine. Not only did it celebrate Luigi by finally giving him the sequel he deserved with Luigi’s Mansion 2, but somehow managed to take Fire Emblem, a niche game, and transform it into something which was a challenge to old hands and appeal to newcomers by making sure that everything was explained well and had an amazing story.

Add in a fantastic selection of indie and old classics on the eShop, the introduction of Miiverse and the ability to meet and compete against others in the newly formed StreetPass meetings, and it’s easy to see why it not only sold so much but also become a console which is loved and well respected.

This too can happen to the Wii U. It already has some great games coming: Mario Kart 8 and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze will delight families around the country, while the mysterious X and Bayonetta 2 will surely please those longing for a meaty challenge. On top of that there’s the new Zelda game, Hyrule Warriors, and Super Smash Bros. to consider, all of which already have fans speculating and anticipating about what is to come. Then there are the offerings of indie developers on the eShop and secret games which are yet to be revealed.

As a hardened Nintendo fan I am not blind to the mistakes they have made with the Wii U. How they’ve messed up a massive and unchallenged lead, how they still believe people know the difference between a Wii and Wii U when it’s clear people still struggle (the so-called unleashed tour only visited a few locations in England last summer and even then people didn’t look convinced), and how they thought they could repeat the success of the past with minimum effort.

However, as we’ve seen with the 3DS, things can be turned around with a lot of hard work. I honestly believe this year will finally see the Wii U get on it’s feet and become a force to be reckoned with. It’s still not too late to achieve what it set out to do, it just needs that extra push. The only thing that worries me is that they focus too much on that and leave the 3DS to fend for itself. I hope that there will be some great games on the way to prove me wrong and I really want to be proved wrong – I love my 3DS too much!bouncer0304 (NN ID)

Inbox also-rans
The move by Nintendo to work with Next Level may be the way back since releasing Rare (which remains a crazy decision). Hope they are working on Metroid – but why does everyone hate Other M? I thought it was a great update on Super Metroid.Donalmurray2002

GC: Well, it’s all a matter of opinion. Ours is that Other M is a steaming pile of etecoon kidneys.

GC: We know nothing about it beyond what we’ve seen in the trailers, but the fact that it was at the PlayStation 4 unveil event and seems to have been created in close cooperation with Sony suggests to us it’ll stay exclusive.

Happy new year all GCers, just a quick line to say welcome to the new generation. Somehow the wife was able to get a nice shiny PlayStation 4 two days before Christmas Day, it came with Killzone, which will do for now any GCers want to add me go ahead.DRone1916 (PSN ID)
PS: Nearly wet myself with the details of PlayStation Now the other day.

This week’s Hot Topic
Inspired by the currently empty release schedules this week’s Hot Topic asks the simple question of what do you do when there are no new games being released?

Do you loose interest in gaming when there are no new titles coming out or does it make no difference to you? Do you purposefully ensure you have a backlog of games to retreat to when there’s nothing new out or do you use the opportunity to buy some older titles you’ve missed out on?

How often do you buy games on or near their release date and does getting them as soon as possible matter to you? How annoying do you find the summer games drought and other periods where there are few new games? Do you think publishers should move to a more even release schedule or does it not bother you?